Rumor claims next-gen Apple Watch going into mass production in Q2
A questionable rumor on Tuesday indicated that the second-generation Apple Watch will go into mass production in the second quarter of 2016, with Quanta Computer remaining as the sole manufacturer.
Apple had considered placing some orders with Foxconn, its main manufacturing partner, but volumes aren't expected to be that high, supply chain sources claimed to DigiTimes. Both Quanta and Foxconn refused to comment on the matter.
The site suggested in fact that Apple has scaled down its 2016 shipment forecast for the Watch, owing to weaker-than-expected performance in 2015, even though the device may control over 50 percent of the smartwatch market. Apple has not released official sales figures, and research estimates have sometimes varied wildly.
DigiTimes has a mixed track record when dealing with Apple products, and indeed the idea of second-quarter Watch production might conflict with more recent rumors that Apple is planning to launch updated hardware in the fall.
The company is expected to host a press event in March at which the Watch will play a part, but only in terms of new bands, and partnerships with firms beyond Hermes.
Apple had considered placing some orders with Foxconn, its main manufacturing partner, but volumes aren't expected to be that high, supply chain sources claimed to DigiTimes. Both Quanta and Foxconn refused to comment on the matter.
The site suggested in fact that Apple has scaled down its 2016 shipment forecast for the Watch, owing to weaker-than-expected performance in 2015, even though the device may control over 50 percent of the smartwatch market. Apple has not released official sales figures, and research estimates have sometimes varied wildly.
DigiTimes has a mixed track record when dealing with Apple products, and indeed the idea of second-quarter Watch production might conflict with more recent rumors that Apple is planning to launch updated hardware in the fall.
The company is expected to host a press event in March at which the Watch will play a part, but only in terms of new bands, and partnerships with firms beyond Hermes.
Comments
I just about never get below about 60% on watch battery power by midnight when I'm done for the day so I'm happy with the battery. Plus I like the looks. If all I wanted was a bauble I'd wear some Swatch toy. Or my just tells the date and time Rolex. (Now THERE'S "clunky looking", far thicker than my Apple Watch for one).
The smartphone is where it used to be. I expect that devices will increasingly connect to and use the network independently. Apple is not going to tether its fortunes to ever-increasing cellphone penetration. That would be living in the past.
You're right, it won't and shouldn't. But that doesn't mean Apple Watch has to work independent of iPhone. Here's another perspective:
http://www.aboveavalon.com/notes/2016/1/19/apple-is-moving-beyond-the-iphone
I believe apple is absolutely looking to move the watch away from the iPhone as quickly as possible, though LTE is going to be a ways away. But around the office and home, or working out, or at a coffee house, traveling, or shopping wifi has more or less got you covered.
in fact, I expect Apple to eventually allow the watch to pair to the iPod Touch, iPad, and even the Mac, for all those customers who don't have iPhones but own other Apple devices.
Granted today at work has been light so far: 3:59 of standby, 14 minutes of usage. Most days usage is a couple of hours... which parallels with 40% consumed given the stated battery life.... True: no fitness activity per se: just activity tracking as it does standard. I do bet that like the iPhone navigation would push power consumption.
Hadn't considered WiFi and yes that's different: especially with places such as NYC deploying those high speed, encrypted, wifi kiosks. Frankly I'm a little too paranoid to use generic wandering WiFi, I got spooked once at NYC Penn station when what I thought was AMTRAK at second look was some spoof site trying to redirect me to the Caribbean somewhere! Thank you AT&T unlimited data LTE!
So yes, independence is an obvious goal: but not for the next iteration as for complete independence it will need LTE (or the follow on version) as I expect cellular to always be more ubiquitous than WiFi if for no other reason that the greater range of cellular signals....
i do a couple hours of fitness activity and am routinely at 45% at bedtime.
Knowing Apple, the second version of the watch is likely to be thinner and have a smaller battery before it tackles such things as actual function. /s
Bigger, chunkier round watches are just an extension on a popular recognized form. More square watches occupy the elegant, high-fashion watch category, than round watches.
Not that there aren't either shape in either category. Apple chose a rectangular watch because it is a more popular shape in the fashion world, and Apple wants that cachet. Few of them are as thick as the Apple Watch though. I wear my Apple Watches daily and the thickness doesn't bother me, and that's all I care about.